Went to Lutherdale yesterday with two good "quilty" friends and browsed the quilts that would be auctioned off today at noon. Bob was working, so what the heck, I trekked back over to the auction, got caught in a big thunder storm, dark pouring rain, but I smiled and thought it was a great summer adventure (of course I had a super umbrella)! Voted for my favorite 3 (of which the winning 3 get hung for all to see and get auctioned off last). Guess what! I must have good taste because two of my favorites out of over 200 quilts were 2 of the three top choices! Anyway, I sat there with my book in case I got bored, and took it all in. Mostly ladies from all over the place, excited ladies, many of whom are quilters themselves.
Lutherdale itself is an awesome camp for kids and adults alike and we were introduced to the camp staff in a very fun way. Cream puffs and other goodies were sold. Then the auction began. I must have had a permanent smile for at least 45 minutes, before I finally relaxed. It was great.
I had a bidding number, yes, and of course got caught up in all the excitement, although I vowed not to and kept my card tucked inside my purse. I bid on one quilt, but it went higher than I wanted so I bowed my head. (You have to because otherwise they keep looking at you and encouraging you to bid higher.) Then a frivolous one came up for bid and I had to have it for a godchild of mine. I got it and was pleased to come home with something. Tried to bid on a Halloween table centerpiece item for my friend, but she wanted to pay $25 and it went for a whopping $185 -- ooops, out of our league!
Well, I wasn't bored, and I chatted with a couple of nice ladies around me who told me how it all worked and they were with friends and having a great time. Watching the audience is almost as much fun as listening to the auction itself.
I paid for my quilt, tramped back to my car half way through the auction, in wet mushy grass, but it was all worth it. Lots of smiling faces were sighted today. The $200 silent bid I put in on one king size quilt turns out to be a joke, because it was the top choice favorite of all and I'm sure it went for over $600, but I'll never know because I left. Quilts are artwork and should be treasured and handled with white gloves, but used! I came home and gently touched every single quilt in our house, most made by my mother-in-law and another hanging made by a good friend. I felt a bigger appreciation of their time and love. Cuddle up.
